Government yesterday failed to supply information on the Bail Bill and Anti-Gang Amendment law which the Opposition had requested to finalise its position on the bill, Opposition whip Ganga Singh said.
As a result, the Opposition’s position in debate on the bill tomorrow in Parliament will be based “on T&T’s best interests,” Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said at a media briefing.
Both spoke following a two-hour meeting with a five-member Government team, headed by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, on the legislation. Government’s team included MPs Camille Robinson-Regis, Marlene McDonald, Fitzgerald Hinds and Glenda Jennings-Smith.
UNC’s team was headed by Singh and included Senators Gerald Ramdeen, Wayne Sturge and MPs Roodal Moonilal, Ramona Ramdial, David Lee and Rodney Charles.
Singh said the Opposition sought information on the efficacy of the legislation for the UNC’s caucus to base its considerations on. He said the AG said he had sought the information from the Judiciary, police, prisons and Director of Public Prosecutions but that was not obtained.
Persad-Bissessar said the Opposition would, therefore, act in T&T’s best interests in the debate and what would inform its position would be the data sought.
She said the main reason for seeking the information was to review the effectiveness of the legislation. She said the People’s Partnership had in 2015 instituted the bill for one year, requiring that it be reviewed after that time since it involved draconian power.
If information provided showed, for instance, only ten people were imprisoned under the bill, she asked if it would be worth continuing, adding she also was not convinced it was an anti-crime tool.
Certain clauses in the bills will become null and void should the bills lapse. Speaking to CNC3 last evening, however, Al-Rawi said he hoped it would not come to that.
“One can only hope that there will not be an inconsistent position in supporting it one day as a government and in not supporting it as the opposition. So I’m hopeful that the logical analysis of this will yield positive results,” he added.
Persad-Bissessar also yesterday challenged Government to provide information on the effect the recent UK “Brexit” referendum would have on T&T since no answers were coming from Finance and other ministers.
She sought answers on international currency fluctuations, how the situation would affect T&T’s Heritage and Stabilisation Fund, which is in US dollars, whether it might affect Government’s upcoming “roadshow” to obtain a (US)$1 billion bond and how “Brexit” might affect the British BP oil company and by extension its local business.